Kristin Smith, Libby City Council

In anticipation of the November municipal election, The Western News sent questionnaires to all Libby and Troy candidates. Each candidate received the same questions and word limits. Libby City Council candidate responses will appear in alphabetical order in subsequent issues of The Western News. Responses submitted by mayoral candidates will appear in separate issues. Answers may be edited for brevity and clarity.

What is your occupation: Mother and business owner.

What is your age: 48

How long have you lived in Libby?

I moved to Montana in 2000 and have been a resident of Libby for 13 years. I earned a master’s degree in community planning (geography) from the University of Montana and have worked as a land use planner in both the private and public sectors. In 2014 my business partner and I opened Cabinet Mountain Brewing Company in downtown Libby.

What community organizations are you involved in?

Libby City Council, 2016-present; Kootenai River Development Council, Chair, Board of Directors 2015-present; Kootenai Heritage Council, Chair, Board of Directors (Aug 2011 – Jan 2013); Libby Area Chamber of Commerce, Board Member (2009-2010).

What aspects of your background and experience would you draw on if elected?

In my profession as a planning consultant working for both private and public clients, it is always imperative to have accurate information in order to make the best recommendations. In addition, where there are obstacles, there are almost always solutions. I have sought to bring about compromise when different parties have differing means to achieve shared end goals. I have chaired many organizations over the past 20 years and I have managed multimillion-dollar projects/budgets and a staff of upwards of 20 employees. Professionalism, good communication -- including listening -- and documentation are all critical elements to successful governance. During my term as the chair of Libby City Council's Ordinance Committee, we worked to modernize many of the city's codes for ease of understanding and improved accountability. It is an ongoing project that I would be honored to be able to continue.

What infrastructure projects would you prioritize during your term?

The City of Libby operates with a Capital Improvements Plan (updated 2020) that has prioritized specific infrastructure improvements to our water and wastewater systems as well as streets and sidewalks. Municipalities have fairly narrow options in Montana when it comes to funding infrastructure, so we rely on sources from the state. During my time on council, we aggressively pursued funding to assist with needed repairs to our water and wastewater systems and have been very successful thanks to the hard work of our staff. More such improvements are slated for the coming years. One area that continues to need improvement is our sidewalk network. While we are pursuing different options for building it, we have, in the meantime, increased the amount that the city will contribute to each property owner that takes it upon themselves to install or repair the sidewalk in front of their homes/businesses. In addition, aspects of our park infrastructure are in need of improvement, such as upgrades to playground equipment at Fireman’s Park.

What policies would you pursue to make Libby more attractive to businesses and employers?

It has been very encouraging to see individuals take it upon themselves to reinvest in their properties all over Libby. You can observe while driving around town the local businesses and residential property owners remodeling their buildings. Businesses with employees that are looking to relocate want to make sure there is a ready workforce, adequate housing, good schools and the right mix of elements that create a positive vibe for the residents. Folks don’t often think of community development as an important part of a community’s infrastructure, but just because it may not involve fixing pipes or repairing streets, when a city puts its best face forward it works to foster a sense of place and a stronger sense of community. Such efforts generally require strong partnerships between government, local nonprofits and private business. Our local community development organization, the Kootenai River Development Council, has worked hard to build on the previous efforts to enhance our community. We have installed way-finding signs; Welcome to Libby signs; public art; downtown building repairs; and trail enhancements. In addition, we have worked to lay the groundwork for adaptive re-use of certain buildings, such as Asa Wood Elementary School. All of these elements as well as exploring other funding opportunities should continue. Taken together they make for an attractive place for out-of-area businesses to want to relocate and for existing businesses to have optimism to re-invest.